Bridge Replacement Project

Help us take the next step to replace the Hood River-White Salmon Bridge

Couldn’t make the meeting? All materials are available for download below, as well as the link to the online survey. All input received from Dec. 10, 2018, and Jan. 31, 2019, will inform the selection of the preferred alternative.

The outdated bridge connecting White Salmon and Hood River must be replaced. With narrow lanes, lack of safety shoulders, difficult barge navigation, and no bike or pedestrian path, the bridge does not meet our current needs. In addition, the existing bridge is not ready for an earthquake. The State of Oregon awarded the Port of Hood River $5 million to advance the project to replace the bridge. Tolls will continue to play a critical role in financing the replacement bridge. The next step in the process requires completion of the environmental review.

A new bridge would improve the movement of people and goods across the Columbia River in our part of the Gorge. The proposed replacement bridge facility would address problems with river navigation, vehicle travel, pedestrian/bicycle connections, and safety. A new bridge also would support a thriving economy and livable communities.

Project Funding

The Port secured funding from the State of Oregon for the project’s next steps after prior studies were funded through Washington state efforts. This was in part thanks to the passage of Oregon HB 2750 and HB 2017 “Keep Oregon Moving” during the 2017 Oregon Legislative Session. The funding is expected to support the environmental review process and financial analysis. It could also be used to begin preliminary engineering.

Building a large piece of bridge infrastructure requires significant resources. Toll revenue will provide essential local match funds for grant funding. The Port currently uses toll revenue for bridge maintenance. Tolls will continue to play a critical role in financing the replacement bridge.

Project Timeline

Significant efforts to replace the bridge have been underway since the 1990s primarily led by Washington legislators. Building on this effort, the Port of Hood River Commission started pursuing next steps and funding in 2015.

The graphic below summarizes the project timeline. The Port will update the technical analysis and complete the necessary environmental documentation to build upon the original Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) published in 2003.